Surgicl Glove

ABSTRACT

A surgical glove adapted to be worn by a user has a portion at the underside of the wrist area of the glove which is enlarged or expandable provides relief from pressure to the wrist of a user wearing the glove during use of the glove. A second enlarged or expandable portion positioned at the dorsal side of the wrist area of the glove further provides relief from pressure to the wrist of the wearer of the glove.

The present invention relates to surgical gloves, and more particularlyto surgical gloves of elastomeric material having improved comfort andstress relief to the user, particularly at the wrist area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Surgical gloves, particularly of elastomeric material, such as latex,are commonly and widely known. The gloves, in addition to use insurgical medical and dental examination and treatment procedures, arealso used in many commercial and industrial applications, such as in themanufacture of shoes and in the manufacture and/or assembly ofelectronic equipment, for example, computer chips, which also requireclean-room or almost sterile conditions to prevent contamination of thedevices being assembled. The reference to “surgical gloves” herein isunderstood to apply to the above-described gloves used in the variousapplications.

The need for improvement in surgical gloves to provide comfort to theuser in some respects has been recognized. For example, certainimprovements have been made, such as providing an enlarged thumb ballarea to provide comfort across the palm area of the hand, as in U.S.Pat. No. 5,907,870, issued Jun. 1, 1999 to Monroe et al. The patentprovides a glove with an enlarged palm area and with a reduced-diametercuff gripping the wrist or forearm of the wearer.

In certain surgical dental and industrial procedures which require theuse of surgical gloves, the user must perform repetitive handmanipulations, often with the exertion of pressure by the fingers andhand. It has now been shown, in an unreported study, that repetitivehand manipulation, particularly in surgical procedures, requiring handmanipulation of instruments, including instruments causing vibrationwhich may be transmitted to the surgeon's hand and wrist, moreparticularly surgeons performing spinal surgery on patients over severalor more hours is likely to cause wrist stress-related problems, forexample, carpal tunnel problems.

It is believed by the present inventor that the wrist-stress relatedproblems among such surgeons using tight-fitting surgical gloves andother users of tight-fitting surgical gloves may be due, in large part,to the wearing of such gloves while performing procedures requiringmanipulation of instruments requiring physical exertion of the hand overmany hours. Thus there is a need for an improved surgical glove whichprovides relief from pressure to the wrist, particularly in the wristarea directly over the carpal tunnel, normally encountered in thewearing of surgical gloves which do not provide for such relief.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one object of this invention is the provision of a surgicalglove which includes a portion of the glove in the area of the inside,i.e., the underside or palmar side of the wrist above the carpal tunneland palmar carpal ligament, which does not cause pressure to that areaupon the wearer of the glove performing hand manipulation.

Another object is the provision of a surgical glove which includesportions of the glove in both the area of the inside, i.e., theunderside or palmar side, and in the area of the outside, i.e., thedorsal or side opposite the palmar side, of the wrist which does notcause pressure to the underside (palmar side) of the wrist above thecarpal tunnel and palmar carpal ligament upon the wearer of the gloveperforming hand manipulations.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a surgicalglove which includes a loosened, non-binding area circumferentiallyabout the wrist area of the glove.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description and drawings.

The surgical glove of the present invention of elastomeric material,such as latex, or other material commonly used for such gloves, includesa portion which provides relief, i.e., eliminates pressure, to the wristabove the carpal tunnel and palmar carpal ligament of the wearer of theglove. As heretofore described, it has now been discovered that stressto the wrist of surgeons, particularly surgeons performing spinalsurgery on patients over several or more hours is likely to cause wriststress-related problems. It is believed that the surgical glove of thepresent invention fulfills the objects described above by providing anarea of enlargement or an enlargeable area of the glove, at least in thearea of the palmar side, i.e., the inside or underside of the wrist,which will be above the carpal tunnel and the palmar carpal ligament ofthe wearer of the glove.

In accordance with the invention, the area of enlargement of the glovematerial may be provided in the above-described area. The area ofenlargement, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, can beprovided by forming an enlarged or baggy portion to the glove in theselected area. Surgical gloves, as is known, can be manufactured byapplying latex or other elastomeric material, to a form, particularlythe form of a hand, by dipping the form in the liquid material, or byspraying the material onto the form, and letting the material dry orcure to a solid condition. To prepare a glove in accordance with thisembodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the form will havea bulge or other enlarged configuration in the area of the formcorresponding to the area above the carpal tunnel and palmar carpalligament of a wearer, so that the manufactured glove will have a baggyor loose portion above the carpal tunnel and palmar carpal ligament ofthe wearer upon the wearer donning the glove.

In another embodiment, the area of enlargement of the glove in the glovematerial also may be on the palmar side and on the outside, i.e., theside opposite the palmar or dorsal side in the same region of the gloveas described above. Having the area of enlargement on both the palmarside and the outside or dorsal side is advantageous in that the glovemay be worn on either the right hand or the left hand of the wearer.Thus, the surgical gloves of this embodiment may be packaged without theneed for gloves to be packaged or the wearer selecting right-hand orleft hand gloves. The gloves can be manufactured as described above, butwith the form having bulges or other enlarged configurationcorresponding to the above-described area on the palmar side and thearea on the opposite or dorsal side of the form. The resulting glovewill have baggy portions on the two opposing sides, allowing the gloveto be worn on either hand, while providing relief from pressure to thewrist area above the carpal tunnel and palmar carpal ligament of thewearer of the glove on either hand.

In still another embodiment, the area of enlargement of the glovematerial may be provided circumferentially about the wrist area of theglove, for example, by forming a circumferential bulge in the form forthe glove about the wrist area, and using the form in the abovemanufacturing process. The resulting glove will be wearable on eitherhand and will eliminate stress to the wrist area to the wearer of theglove.

Other embodiments of this invention include providing the glove withareas of relief corresponding to the glove area above the carpal tunneland palmar carpal ligament of the wearer of the glove, or in the areajust described and in the area on the opposite side of the glove, orcircumferentially in the wrist area, by forming pleats in the glovematerial in those areas. An example of pleats are areas of additionalglove material in the form of ribs and elongated valleys, which can beformed on the hand form to be used in the manufacture of the glove,thereby forming corresponding areas of ribs and valleys in the desiredareas of the gloves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a surgical glove in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the surgical glove shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of a surgical glove in accordance withanother embodiment, which is similar to the glove shown in FIG. 1, thedorsal or rear view being the same as the elevational view;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a surgical glovein accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the surgical glove shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of still another embodiment of a surgicalglove in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a glove inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a surgical glove 10, shown as worn by awearer on the left hand, having an enlarged portion 12, i.e., additionalmaterial, in the area below the thumb 14 and the thumb ball area 16.Enlarged portion 12 can be a generally circular or oval enlargement orbulge which can be formed in the wrist area of the glove as heretoforedescribed. Where enlarged portion or bulge 12 is an oval configuration,the larger axis can be positioned transversely to the length directionof the glove or longitudinally along the length direction of the glove.Enlarged portion 12 provides relief to the carpal tunnel and thetransverse carpal ligament of the wearer upon the wearer donning theglove, thereby providing relief to stress caused to the wearer's wristupon the wearer performing manipulations of the hand, for example, inspine surgery over several or more hours.

Surgical glove 10 further includes a forearm gripping portion 18, whichterminates in a cuff, to grip the glove to the wearer's forearm toprevent contamination of the area about the glove from any substance orcontamination on the hand within the glove. Additionally the grippingportion 18 prevents any substance or contamination on or outside theglove or the upper forearm of the wearer from reaching the hand, wristand lower forearm area of the wearer within the glove.

Another embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, is identical toglove 10, in FIG. 1, but with a second enlarged portion 20 on the dorsalside of the glove opposite to portion 12. In this manner, glove 10 withportions 12 and 20 can be worn on either the right or left hand, itbeing understood that in such case what is shown as thumb 14 in FIG. 1is identical to the little finger, so that the glove can be worn oneither hand with either portion 12 or portion 20 over the wrist area. Inthis manner, the relief to the wrist area against stress will beincreased as compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein thesurgical glove 30 has an enlarged portion 32 which surrounds the wristarea of the wearer of the glove. Portions which are identical toportions of glove 10 in FIG. 1 have identical reference numerals and arenot further described for the sake of brevity. Enlarged portion 32,circumferentially surrounding the wrist area, provides even furtherrelief from stress which would otherwise be applied to the carpal tunneland transverse carpal ligament of the wearer, and allows the glove to beworn on either the right or left hand of the wearer. As in the previousembodiments, the enlarged portion 32 can be formed by having acorresponding enlargement on the form utilized to manufacture the gloveas described above.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6wherein the surgical glove 40 includes a portion 42 in the wrist area ofthe glove, portion 42 being in the form of pleats 44, namely ribs 46 andvalleys 48 which can flex and stretch in the direction transverse to andat angles to the direction of the ribs 46 and valleys 48. The enlargedportion 42 can be formed in the glove by having corresponding ribs andvalleys in the form utilized in the manufacture of the glove. The pleatsin the portion 42 act as an enlarged portion with the effect of portion12 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, without the baggy look andfeel of portion 12. The ribs 46 and valleys 48 resemble and may betermed as a bellows, and act as a bellows, expanding when stretchingforces are applied in the transverse direction to the ribs and valleys,but returning to its original shape when stretching forces are released.

As shown in FIG. 7, in another embodiment of the invention, the glove 50includes a portion 52, similar to portion 42 of glove 40, but with thepleats 54, with ribs 56 and valleys 58 in a direction transverse to thedirection of pleats 44 of glove 40. The same advantages attained byglove 40 with pleats 44 described above apply to glove 50 due to pleats54, which expand to relieve pressure which would otherwise be applied tothe carpal tunnel and transverse carpal ligament.

The use of the gloves of the present invention with the enlarged orexpandable portion in the area of the glove which corresponds to thewrist area above the wearer's carpal tunnel and transverse carpalligament, is believed to be effective to relieve pressure thereon causedby the glove in the wrist area pressing on that area upon the wearer'smanipulation on the hand.

While several particular embodiments of the surgical glove of theinvention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the invention in its broader aspects.

1. A surgical glove adapted to be worn by a user, said glove comprisinga portion at the underside of and extending across the wrist area toinclude the area between the palm and forearm of the glove which isexpandable, whereby said portion of the glove provides relief frompressure to the wrist area of the user wearing the glove.
 2. Thesurgical glove of claim 1 wherein the said portion is located at theunderside of the wrist area of the glove corresponding to the wrist areaof the user above the carpal tunnel and palmar carpal ligament of theuser.
 3. The surgical glove of claim 1 comprising portions at theunderside and dorsal side of the wrist area which are expandable,whereby said portions provide release from pressure to the wrist area ofa user of the glove.
 4. The surgical glove of claim 3 wherein saidportions are located at the underside and dorsal side of the wrist areaof the glove corresponding to the wrist area of the user above thecarpal tunnel and palmar carpal ligament of the user.
 5. The surgicalglove of claim 1 wherein said portion is an enlarged portion of thematerial of the glove, whereby the portion at least partially does notremain in constant contact with the wrist of the user wearer during useof the glove.
 6. The surgical glove of claim 5 wherein said portion is abaggy portion compared to the remaining material of the glove.
 7. Thesurgical glove of claim 5 wherein the glove comprises a second enlargedportion of the material of the glove positioned at the dorsal side ofthe wrist area of the glove, whereby the second enlarged portion atleast partially does not remain in constant contact with the dorsal sideof the wrist of the user wearer during use of the glove.
 8. The surgicalglove of claim 7 wherein said portions are located at the underside anddorsal side of the wrist area of the glove corresponding to the wristarea of the user above the carpal tunnel and palmar carpal ligament ofthe user.
 9. The surgical glove of claim 8 wherein said portions arelocated at the underside and dorsal side of the wrist area of the glovecorresponding to the wrist area of the user above the carpal tunnel andpalmar carpal ligament of the user.
 10. The surgical glove of claim 9wherein said portions are baggy portions compared to the remainingmaterial of the glove.
 11. The surgical glove of claim 5 wherein saidportion is a circumferentially enlarged portion compared to theremaining material of the glove.
 12. The surgical glove of claim 11wherein the circumferentially enlarged portion is an outwardly extendingbulge in the material of the glove.
 13. The surgical glove of claim 11wherein the glove comprises a second circumferentially enlarged portionof the material of the glove positioned at the dorsal side of the wristarea of the glove, whereby the second enlarged portion at leastpartially does not remain in constant contact with the dorsal side ofthe wrist of the user wearer during use of the glove.
 14. The surgicalglove of claim 1 wherein said portion comprises a plurality of pleats inthe glove material, whereby is an enlarged portion of the material ofthe glove, whereby said pleats provide relief from pressure to the wristarea of the user wearing the glove.
 15. The surgical glove of claim 14wherein the glove comprises a second plurality of pleats in the glovematerial positioned at the dorsal side of the wrist area of the glove,whereby the second plurality of pleats provide relief from pressure tothe wrist area of the user wearing the glove.
 16. The surgical glove ofclaim 14 wherein said plurality of pleats in the glove material arepositioned circumferentially about the wrist area of the glove.
 17. Asurgical glove adapted to be worn by a user, said glove comprising anenlarged circumferentially baggy portion at the underside of andextending across the wrist area to include the area between the palm andforearm of the glove, whereby said portion of the glove provides relieffrom pressure to the wrist area of the user wearing the glove.
 18. Thesurgical glove of claim 17 wherein the glove comprises a second enlargedcircumferentially baggy portion of the material of the glove positionedat the dorsal side of the wrist area of the glove, whereby the secondenlarged portion at least partially does not remain in constant contactwith the dorsal side of the wrist of the user wearer during use of theglove.
 19. A surgical glove adapted to be worn by a user, said glovecomprising a plurality of pleats in the glove material at the undersideof and extending across the wrist area to include the area between thepalm and forearm of the glove, whereby said pleats provide relief frompressure to the wrist area of the user wearing the glove.
 20. Thesurgical glove of claim 19 wherein said plurality of pleats in the glovematerial is positioned circumferentially about the wrist area of theglove.